SYLLABUS

U.S. - Latin American Relations

POSC 176, Fall 2004

Tu-Th, 9:35

Wehr Physics 122

Prof. Michael Fleet

Wehr Physics 446

Of. Hrs. - Mondays, 1-4;
Wednesdays, 8-11

This courses analyzes U.S.- Latin American relations during the
so-called Imperial era (late-19th and early-20th centuries), the Cold-War years
(1945-1990), and in the emerging, but not yet fully defined, Apost-Cold War period. We will read three books on
U.S. policy toward Latin America generally, and one on U.S.-Mexican relations. We will attempt to identify the motives,
interests, and forces that shape U.S. foreign policy objectives, the means with which the U.S. pursues its objectives in
Latin America, and the responses of countries that are the objects of these policies, measures and initiatives. Among the internal factors affecting
U.S.-Latin American relations, we shall look at ideological and cultural
forces, national attributes and historical experiences, class forces, and
conjunctural domestic economic and political factors; among external factors, we will stress geographic proximity, trade and investment flows,
monetary structures, regional and international economic trends (such as demand
levels, market prices, and interest rates), and political and economic
conditions affecting one=s trading partners, etc.

The course will require active student participation. Students are expected to do the assigned
reading and to come to class prepared to discuss it critically. Those who might be uncomfortable responding
when called upon in class can write (type) our their questions and comments in
advance, and be ready to clarify or elaborate upon them in class. In either event, class participation will
make up 20% of each students= semester grade. Four multiple-choice quizzes, each worth 5%,
make up an additional 20% of the grade. There will also be two take-home essay exams. This first of these is worth 20%, and
is due on October 22nd. The
second, worth 40%, is due on December 6th. Topics for these essay exams will be
distributed three days in advance of the due date. Plagiarism (e.g., downloading material from
the internet without proper attribution) will be treated harshly.

The following books should be purchased:

Lars Schoultz, Beneath the
United States
(paper);

V. Bulmer Thomas and J. Dunkerly, The U.S. and Latin America:
the New Agenda (paper);